'I was perfectly fine': Pregnant Milwaukee mom shares what pushed her to get Covid booster shot

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Health officials are urging expectant moms to get vaccinated. They say vaccinated pregnant women can still get COVID. However, getting the vaccine will decrease their chances of ending up in a hospital bed.

"My doctor said it was okay to get a booster, because that was my concern. I asked and she was like 'sure you can.'"

Kelly Mitchell is four months pregnant. She got her first vaccine in April 2021. Mitchell got pregnant and made the decision to get the booster shot in October. She says her goal was to protect herself and her unborn baby. 

"It's not that bad as people are saying that it is, getting the booster or the vaccine for COVID. It would affect the baby, no it won't," Mitchell said.

She lost several family members to COVID. She says she understands why doctors encourage people to get the shot.

"We just got to give it a try, rather we get sick or not. We still taking the chance of not getting, still getting sick. We did it as a family and I was perfectly fine." 

Dr. Matthew Lee is the medical director of women and families at Ascension Wisconsin.

"We do know that getting COVID-19 while you're pregnant puts you, the mom, at increased risk of serious illness, hospitalizations, ICU admission, ventilations." 

There are also myths around expectant moms getting the vaccine.

"There's no increased risk of miscarriage, there's no increased risk of pre-term labor with the vaccine, stillbirths or birth defects with the vaccine," Dr. Lee said.

Right now, the U.S. rate for pregnant vaccinated women is 40%. 

"When we look at our Wisconsin Ascension numbers we're close to 40%, but women, you look at women who are Hispanic and Black women, it’s about 20. So we got an opportunity to talk to them." 

As of Jan. 8, 2022, more than 234,000 pregnant women in the U.S. were fully vaccinated, without any safety concerns.

Data show no increased risk for infertility, miscarriage or birth defects. 

According to the CDC, just over 42% of pregnant individuals are vaccinated. The CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recommend that all pregnant or lactating individuals, along with those trying to get pregnant, be vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccine can also help pregnant women build antibodies that might protect their babies. 

Dr. Lee says it's best to talk to your primary health care doctor if you're still unsure.